Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/12338
Title: KEEPING AN EYE ON IMAGERY: THE ROLE OF EYE MOVEMENTS DURING MOTOR IMAGERY TRAINING
Authors: HEREMANS, Elke 
Smits-Engelsman, B.
Caeyenberghs, K.
Vercruysse, S.
Nieuwboer, A.
FEYS, Peter 
Helsen, W. F.
Issue Date: 2011
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Source: NEUROSCIENCE, 195. p. 37-44
Abstract: We recently found that spontaneous eye movements occur during motor imagery of hand movements, which are similar to those made during physical execution. In physical execution, eye movements have been shown to play an important role during training. In motor imagery practice, however, their effect remains unclear. Therefore, in the present study, we examined the role of eye movements during motor imagery practice with specific interest in the impact of task complexity and effector specificity. Thirty-six young healthy participants were tested before and after 4 days of visual motor imagery training on a Virtual Radial Fitts' task with different indices of difficulty. Training was performed with the nondominant hand only. Subjects were divided into a group that trained while spontaneous eye movements were allowed, one that kept the eyes fixed during training, and a control group. Electro-oculography and electromyography signals were monitored to guarantee task compliance during imagery. The results indicated that eye movements during imagery did not affect the temporal parameters of the trained movement. They did, however, help to achieve maximal gains in movement accuracy and efficiency. These positive effects on the spatial parameters were most pronounced during conditions with high accuracy demands and were present for both the trained and the untrained hand. These findings contribute to guidelines for optimizing training protocols based on motor imagery. (C) 2011 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Notes: [Heremans, E; Smits-Engelsman, B; Caeyenberghs, K; Feys, P; Helsen, WF] Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Biomed Kinesiol, Louvain, Belgium. [Smits-Engelsman, B] Avansplus Univ Profess, Breda, Netherlands. [Vercruysse, S; Nieuwboer, A; Feys, P] Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Rehabil Sci, Louvain, Belgium. [Feys, P] Univ Hasselt, PHL Univ Coll, REVAL Rehabil Res Ctr, Hasselt, Belgium. elke.heremans@faber.kuleuven.be
Keywords: eye movements; motor imagery; functional equivalence; transfer; mental practice;Neurosciences; eye movements; motor imagery; functional equivalence; transfer; mental practice
Document URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/12338
ISSN: 0306-4522
e-ISSN: 1873-7544
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.07.030
ISI #: 000295863900004
Category: A1
Type: Journal Contribution
Validations: ecoom 2012
Appears in Collections:Research publications

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